Top 10 Songs of 2013

1. "Ground Gives Way" - The Ocean Blue
Ladies and gentlemen- this is the undisputed musical champion of 2013. It is a masterpiece. This year, The Ocean Blue, from Hershey, released their first studio album since 1999. Ultramarine, a 12-track treasure, is a shoe-in for Album of the Year. "Ground Gives Way" showcases it all. Oed Ronne's melodic guitar progressions match David Schelzel's soothing voice perfectly. Everything is perfect. *cue applause*



2. "400 Lux" - Lorde
Lorde quite literally came out of nowhere. All of the sudden, it was if we all knew a 17-year-old was taking over the world, and we weren't too upset about it. Her attitude is unique; she truly doesn't care what you think, and you can hear it in her voice in "400 Lux." It's teenage swagger embodied in two mesmerizing synth tracks. Can it get any better?



3. "Sway" - Blue October
Until 2013, Blue October frontman Justin Furstenfeld was, to put it simply, angry. Any Man In America was a tell-all about divorce and child custody, and even though the music was brilliant, it was emotionally overwhelming. Sway, released in August, showcases Justin's happy side, and the title track is pure bliss. "And we sway."



4. "New Town Velocity" - Johnny Marr
In a year that saw Morrissey release his revealing autobiography, former Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr made waves of his own. In February, Marr released The Messenger, his debut solo album. "New Town Velocity" proves he still hasn't forgotten how to play Smiths-esque guitar, and that he has vocal chops. Let's face it: Johnny Marr is timeless.  



5. "Domo23" - Tyler the Creator
After "Yonkers" took the rap industry by storm in 2011 and Goblin carried its weight in 2012, Wolf, Tyler the Creator's second studio album, was well-anticipated to say the least. It didn't disappoint. "Domo 23" hits hard, and laughs at those who think Tyler can't produce quality beats. And as for those who say he can't rap? "Came to Pitchfork with a couple Jada Pinkett signs."



6. "All Things All At Once" - Tired Pony
We'd all love a new R.E.M. album. We'd all love a new Snow Patrol album. Those wishes didn't come true in 2013, but Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck's collab project Tired Pony gave us The Ghost of the Mountain. Its feature single, "All Things All At Once," is simple. A handful of Lightbody's brilliantly romantic lyrics on top of some guitar chords. Beauty doesn't have to be complex.  



7. "Timeless" - The Airborne Toxic Event
Without doubt the most empowering chorus of 2013. How does ATE do it? Lead singer Mikel Jollett uses the verses of "Timeless" to get you thinking; why is life so short? Why can't I stay here with you forever? And then, in a beautiful panic, Jollett belts out "You are the only thing that makes me feel like I can live forever," and everything is suddenly okay again. 



8. "Money And The Power" - Kid Ink
Kid Ink, a 2013 RCA Records signee who sounds oddly like Meek Mill, is the Rookie of the Year. "Money and the Power" is one of those rare hip hop anthems that proclaims "If you don't like me, who cares?" The moral of the story: Don't sleep on Kid Ink. He is dropping My Own Lane on Jan. 7. 



9."Reflektor" - Arcade Fire
The only reason this song isn't #1 is because it's too difficult. Too artsy (the marketing campaign was cheesy, and the band's costume party concerts were contrived.) Sometimes, complexity absorbs creative value. However, it is a fantastic track. The band's instrumentation, as always, meshes perfectly. Oh, and David Bowie can be heard in the background.



10. "Strictly 4 My Jeeps" - Action Bronson
Warning: this song (and video) is gross. Action Bronson is everything wrong with hip hop, but at the same time, everything right. His flow is mad good, and he is not afraid to be a bit out-of-the-ordinary. "Strictly 4 My Jeeps" showcases Bronson's love for himself, and his love for women, money and food. "New York, I'm like Jeter, light Caesar."


HONORABLE MENTIONS (CLICK TO LISTEN)

11. "Power Trip" - J. Cole/Miguel

12. "The Mother We Share" - CHVRCHES

13. "Black Skinhead" - Kanye West

14. "Dark Horse" - Katy Perry (Juicy J)

15. "Skip To The Good Bit" - Rizzle Kicks

16. "23" - Mike Will Made It (Miley Cyrus)

17. "Where The Kids Are" - Blondfire

18. "Love Is Colder Than Death" - Dean Wareham

19. "Watching Movies" - Mac Miller

20. "Hop is Back" - Hopsin

A Blind Eye to Terror

[To view A Blind Eye to Terror, click on the tab at the top of the website.]

When I decided to do an in-depth look at the state of anti-bullying in America, it was - well - overwhelming at first. 

What is bullying? Who gets bullied? Is it just among children? What age? Is it always at school? How do you stop it? Is anyone trying to stop it?

What should I focus on?

If I were to answer all those questions (and really, there are hundreds more), it would take a lot longer than a few weeks. Let's face it: there are people who dedicate their lives to this stuff. 

I started with personal accounts. If I was going to understand bullying at its core, I would have to hear stories. And stories. And more stories. I was bullied, yes, but not nearly as bad as children like Rebecca Sedwick.

So I listened, and didn't ask any questions. I just wanted to hear stories. 

Out of the 25 or so accounts, one stuck out. Someone told me that their classmate in high school committed suicide because they were bullied, and that the school tried to push it under the rug. That's a serious accusation. 

It reminded me of Valentine Road, an HBO documentary about a kid named Larry King who was shot and killed in class because he was different. After the murder, Larry's school refused to put up a memorial. 

I needed to talk to Marta Cunningham, the documentarian behind the story. It was the first time I got a hold of a serious source through Twitter. After a handful of tweets, I got a phone call from Ms. Cunningham. 

She couldn't comment on the school's decisions, unfortunately, but she did answer my questions about bullying in America. She mentioned that there were progressive techniques out there that schools were not utilizing. 

Enter Josh and Gab. I had always wanted to do a story about Josh and Gab, and I had finally found the perfect fit. To ease the atmosphere in the story, I was going to embed a video about the performers. End on a positive note, perhaps. 

The experience was fantastic, as expected. Josh and Gab are the best of the best, and I look forward to working with them again. 

Time had run out at this point (I had to turn it in for class.) The story is not completed yet, though. There are many more aspects to examine. 

For now, though, take a look.